Method and apparatus for forming shaped insulators of different lengths

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for forming shaped insulators of different lengths from a strip of insulative material. The insulators are automatically formed into the predetermined desired lengths from a continuous strip of insulative material by apparatus which includes a guide for the strip of insulative material, a driving feed member which advances the strip along the guide and a retaining member which retards movement of the strip. A linkage is coupled to the driving feed member and has a movable pivot to effect a change in the length of strip advanced. A timing means includes a rotatable member connected to the linkage for periodically reciprocating the driving feed member. Control means is connected to selectively effect movement of the pivot to vary the length of stroke of the driving feed member. Severing means is associated with the timing means to sever the advanced strip of insulative material. There is a magazine to receive the severed length of insulative material and shaping means associated with the timing means to insert the severed length of insulative material into the magazine.

United States atent Arnold et al.

[54] METHOD AND APPAA'llEUS MUM FORMING SHAPED lINSlULATURS @ll DIFFERENT LENG'llllllS [72] Inventors: Richard E. Arnold; Dallas Il Smith, both of Fort Wayne, Ind.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company [22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1970 [2]] Appl. No: 84,406

Related ILLS. Application Data ['62] Division of Ser. No. 806,057, Mar 11, 1969, Pat. No.

[52] U.S.Cl ..29/205 E,29/598 [51] 1nt.C1. ..lll02lr15/1l0 [58] Field of Search ..29/205 E, 598, 205 11,205 D; 140/92.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,980,170 11/1934 Eaton ..29/598 2,432,267 12/1947 Adamson ..29/596 2,934,099 4/1960 Mason.... ...140/92 1 2,958,122 11/1960 Turk.... 29/205 13 3,151,638 10/1964 Hill 140/92 1 3,324,536 6/1967 Hill ..29/205 R will I 1 1 ll ellr. 22, W72

3,447,225 Q5/1969 Eminger ..29/205 0 3,514,836 @1970 Mason ..29/205 E Primary Emminer-Thomas l'l. Eager Attorney-John M. Stoudt, Redford M. Reams, Ralph E. ltrisher, ,lr., Oscar B. Weddell, Joseph B. Forman and Frank L. Neuhauser Method and apparatus for forming shaped insulators of different lengths from a strip of insulative material. The insula tors are automatically formed into the predetermined desired lengths from a continuous strip of insulative material by apparatus which includes a guide for the strip of insulative material, a driving feed member which advances the strip along the guide and a retaining member which retards movement of the strip. A linkage is coupled to the driving feed member and has a movable pivot to effect a change in the length of strip advanced. A timing means includes a rotatable member connected to the linkage for periodically reciprocating the driving feed member. Control means is connected to selectively effect movement of the pivot to vary the length of strolte of the driving feed member. Severing means is associated with the timing means to sever the advanced strip of insulative material. There is a magazine to receive the severed length of insulative material and shaping means associated with the timing means to insert the severed length of insulative material into the magazine.

i it SHAPED llNSUlLATORS OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS AND COPENDING APPLICATIONS This application is a division of copending application Ser. No. 806,057, Richard B. Arnold and Dallas F, Smith, filed Mar. 11, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,818, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

The present invention is related to the general type of ap paratus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,514,836, Lowell M. Mason, issued June 2, 1970 and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

The following copending applications, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, are expressly incorporated by reference in the present application: APPARATUS FOR INSERTING INSULATORS AND COIL TURNS INTO THE SLOTS OF A MAGNETIC CORE, Richard B. Arnold, Ser. No. 875,895 filed Nov. 12, 1969 which is a continuation-inpart of application Ser. No. 748,405 filed July 29, 1968, now abandoned; METHOD FOR INSERTING INSULATORS AND COIL TURNS INTO THE SLOTS OF A MAGNETIC CORE, Richard B. Arnold, Ser. No. 35,175 filed May 6, 1970 which is a division of the aforementioned application Ser. No. 875,895 filed Nov. 12, 1969; COIL DEVELOPING AP- PARATUS, Richard B. Arnold, Ser. No. 884,145 filed Dec. 11, l969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,791, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 748,406 filed July 29, 1968, now abandoned; COIL DEVELOPING APPARATUS, Richard E. Arnold, Ser. No. 42,150 filed June 1, 1970 which is a division of the aforementioned application Ser, No. 884,145 filed Dec, 1 l, 1969; now U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,791; METHOD OF DEVELOPING COILS OF A COIL GROUP FOR A MAGNETIC CORE, Richard B. Arnold, Ser No. 42,189 filed June 1, 1970 which is a division of the aforementioned appli' cation Ser. No. 884,145 filed Dec. 11, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,791.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to apparatus for automatically forming insulators of the desired shape, and more particularly to automatically forming wedgelike insulators of different lengths for insertion into selected slots of a slotted mag netic core, such as the stator member of a dynamoelectric machine.

In the manufacture of electromagnetic devices, and in particular the production of stator members having at least two phase windings, carried by magnetic cores, for use in dynamoelectric machines such as electric motors, insulators of different axial lengths, such as in-between coil side phase insulators and the somewhat shorter slot closure or wedge insulators, are normally preshaped from suitable strip material, for instance compressed paper, polyethylene terephthalate, and the like and then inserted into axially extending slots of the stator core during manufacture of the core, In regard to stators, it is quite desirable to fabricate the phase insulators of greater lengths than the slot closure insulators since the phase insulators have end sections extending between coil end turns of different phases adjacent each side face of the core for insulation purposes at those locations. After one phase winding is distributed in appropriate slots of the stator core, it is customary to insert the phase insulators over sides of the winding already in the slots adapted to accommodate sides of another phase winding at this stage of manufacture. The closure insulators are normally disposed over winding sides in slots where additional phase windings are not installed. It is also quite desirable to be able to utilize the same methods and equipment in the manufacture of stators of different sizes and configurations. The foregoing all contribute to the difficulty being experienced in effecting efficiency, economy, speed, and versatility in the satisfactory manufacture of electromagnetic devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for forming shaped in sulators of different predetermined lengths for use in selected slots of slotted magnetic cores.

It is another object of the present invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for effecting the desirable features and overcome the difficulties mentioned above in connection with the manufacture of electromagnetic devices, including improvements in effecting efficiency, economy, speed and versatility in such manufacture.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for automatically forming shaped insulators of different axial lengths for subsequent placement into selected slots of electromagnetic devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The subject matter which we regard as our invention is pan ticularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof may be better understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals identify like components, and in which:

FIG. 11 is a view in perspective of the general physical arrangement used in the manufacture of slotted structures having insulators and coils in the slots of inductive devices, for instance, a stator for use in a fractional horsepower size dynamoelectric machine; which general physical arrangement includes apparatus incorporating one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view in partial section depicting components of the apparatus of FIG. l for forming a first length of insulation from a continuous strip on insulative material, the view showing the components in position as the first length is being severed from the strip;

FIG. 2a is a front view of a part of the connecting arm arrangement of the components illustrated in F IG, 2, with some parts removed for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section depicting a portion of the components seen in FIG. 2 as the severed length ofinsulative material is being transferred into an insulator-receiving magazine;

FIG. I is a rear view ofa drive means provided for the insulator-making components generally depicted in FIGS. 11 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a portion of the components seen in FIG. 3 revealing the severed length being placed into a slot of the insulator-receiving magazine;

FIG. 6 is a side view in partial section, similar to the view in FIG. 2, revealing the components automatically set for producing an insulator of another length from the same continuous strip of insulative material;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective depicting the stator core load and insulator-coil inject relative positions of the insulatorreceiving magazine, stator core and injection tooling;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cam development diagram showing motion of the insulator-making timing unit components versus the angle of displacement for a motion control cam member;

FIG. 9 is a front view in partial section depicting the telescoping relationship of the injection or insertion tooling and insulator-receiving magazine of the apparatus of FIG. 11 revealing the placing of the insulators from the magazine into the insertion tooling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to disclose the principles of our invention, improved apparatus incorporating one form of the invention are illustrated in connection with the manufacture of slotted structure incorporated in electromagnetic devices; e.g., stators for use in single phase induction dynamoelectric machines in the two exemplifications of FIGS. 1-9 inclusive. The Figures are substantially the same as FIGS. l-9 of the parent case and certain reference numbers shown but not described are described in detail in the parent case.

Referring now more particularly to the Figures, the stator being manufactured of the exemplification identified by numeral 5, has a number of axially extending insulated slots adapted to receive two distributed wound phase windings having two polar groups of concentric coils. An insulator-forming station I is furnished above (as viewed in the drawings) and in communication with exposed upper walls of a suitable insulator and coil-accommodating means 20 of an insulator and coil-distributing station ll. Station I is equipped to automatically form a predetermined number of phase insulators and the axially shorter closure insulators from a continuous strip of insulative material, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, paper or the like, in a preselected sequence. The shaped insulators are then transferred to the insulator and coil-distributing station 1] prior to the placement of core into that station by an insulator transfer mechanism 220 which fits over the exposed upper walls of means in telescoping relation therewith. This is accomplished before coil turns are formed into coil groups in means 20 at a turn-forming station III disposed in spaced relation to station II.

Once the insulators have been properly installed into means 20 from a position over station II, means 20 is transported by a conveyor, such as turntable assembly 8, to a turn-forming station III where the desired number of turns are formed in means 20 to provide coil groups for the first phase winding. As this is being done at station III, a second insulator and coil-accommodating r'neans 20A is disposed at station II. At this time, additional insulators of two lengths are automatically formed in the predetermined number at station I and transferred to station I] as already outlined in regard to means 20. Thereafter. means 20A is transported to station Ill, core 5 is conveyed from a core-handling station IV into telescoping relation with means 20 at station II, and both the insulators and coil turns distributed from means 20 into the core while additional two lengths of insulators are being formed and inserted into transfer mechanism 220 in the proper sequence. Core 5 having the insulators and coils in place is then removed from station II, replaced at station IV with another core, and the cycle repeated with this next core. The same apparatus may be used if desired to provide the second phase winding in the first exemplification.

Details of one form of apparatus for achieving the above, particularly forming insulators of selected lengths, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 inclusive will now be considered more specifically. The apparatus includes the insulator-making or forming station I having an assembly 50 for receiving a supply of insulative material 12 in continuous strip form and for automatically fabricating insulators of different axial lengths for inclusion in a slotted structure, such as the magnetic stator core 5 in the illustrated exemplification. A material storage reel 10 supplies insulative material 12 in strip form, which may be suitable dielectric material already mentioned. Reel 10 may be pivoted about a point 14, with insulative material 12 drawn over pulley 16 downwardly, and around pulley 28 and then upwardly. An end of supply switch 23 and a splice detector assembly 24 maybe provided to detect a lack of insulative material or a defect in the supplied material respectively. Conduit 26 contains conductors for splice detector assembly 24, and conduit 26a contains conductors for end of supply switch 23. Pulley 28, splice detector assembly 24 and end of supply switch 23 may be fastened to bracket 29 which is secured to the lower machine frame. Material 12 passes upwardly over the pulley 22, which is fastened to the main frame 30 by means of bracket 32 through the fasteners 34 and 36 and a shaft 38, and then passes over pulley 40 and back down into the insulator-forming assembly 50 at station I.

As depicted in FIG. 1 and as will be more clearly shown hereinafter with references to FIGS. 2 through 9 inclusive, assembly 50 at station I may include guide means 136 and 148 for guiding insulative material 12 downwardly through at least a portion of the insulator-making operation. A pressure line 25 and a return line 27 carry fluid for a hydraulic motor utilized in this operation, the hydraulic motor being operable through a drive shaft coupled to the cam to provide motive force for a lever arm 60, which is coupled to cam 90 through a connecting arm 98. Lever arm 60 is connected through another arm 68, to a pawl operative as a pressure member to urge insulative material 12 downwardly. Means is further provided for varying the axial length of insulative material fed to a severing unit to provide variable length insulators which may be utilized in one embodiment to provide a first axial length for phase insulators and a second length for the closure insulators in a stator core 5.

In the illustrated form assembly 50 has insulator mechanism 220 positioned in telescoping relationship above one insulator and coil-accommodating means 20. One construction of means 20 may take the form of that described in more detail in the U.S. copending Arnold application Ser. No. 875,895 identified previously. As each insulator is made, it is transferred into insulator-receiving slots in magazine 220 as best seen in FIG. 5. Magazine 220 may have a number .of slots equal to the number of slots adapted to accommodate coil sides in stator core 5, 24 in the two-pole exemplification. When the requisite number of insulators are made for the core 5, a plurality of pushers 300 are inserted into magazine 220, driving the shaped insulators from magazine 220 into the insulator and coil-accommodating means 20. Pushers 300 may be drawn down by a driving force provided through dual cylinders 332 and 342 which receive fluid from pressure line 39 and are operable to exert a pressure on slidable block 302 which is in turn connected to pushers 300.

As shown in FIG. 1, a mounting plate 4 is secured to frame member 3, and in turn provides a mount for tension device 6 and for a guide member 15. A suitable electrically conductive wire 2 may be drawn through guide 1 1 from a suitable supply (not shown) contained near the machine. Conductive wire 2 may be guided over a first pulley l3, and a second pulley 7, and down through tension device 6 into winding station 17. A gear motor is activated and provides the motive force for the winding head 19 during the coil-forming operation. Pulleys 13 and 7 are secured to a frame 37, and frame 37 is in turn secured to the frame 30. Electrically conductive wire 2 is passed down to the turn-forming station III where one or more coil groups of electrically conductive wire are developed. A more detailed description of one type of turn-forming components which may be used quite advantageously in conjunction with the machine depicted in FIG. 1 is given in the copending Arnold application Ser. No. 884,145.

As shown in FIG. 1, conveyor 8 of the turntable type is supported by a center pedestal 9, and is provided with at least two insulator and coil-accommodating means; e.g., mechanisms or injection tools 20 and 20A in the exemplification. One of the accommodating mechanisms 20 and 20A is positioned beneath assembly 50 and magazine 220 in telescoping relationship therewith, while the other of the accommodating mechanisms 20 and 20A is positioned in the turn-forming station III which may include winding head 19 and a coildeveloping apparatus 18 as described more fully in the copending Arnold application Ser. No. 884,145. By utilizing plural insulator and coil-accommodating means, such as mechanisms 20 and 20A, in their described position and relationship, the machine of FIG. 1 is capable of producing coil groups at station III and inserting coils and required insulators into stator core 5 simultaneously with all poles interconnected. Furthermore, the making of a set of insulators may proceed substantially simultaneously with the formation of the groups of coils, and after pushers 300 drive a set of phase and closure insulators into selected slots of accommodating means 20, conveyor 8 may be indexed to allow accommodating means 20 to be positioned at station III for reasons already explained.

INSULATOR-FORMING STATION I Having briefly described the general arrangement and operation of the apparatus, we will now disclose in detail the illustrated apparatus for automatically making or forming wedgelike insulators in a number of different lengths for the axially extending slots in stator core 5. Referring toFIGS. 2 through 9 in the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 9, assemblySl) at station I may include a feed mechanism 59 for contacting and moving material 12 a predetermined length selectively corresponding to the desired phase or closure insulator length. Feed mechanism 59 may include linkage means which may be a lever-type arm 61) pivoted about the fixed plate 62 through a pivot 64 and connected to a slide block 66 by means of an arm 68. Plate 62 may be secured to plate 178 through bracket 65 and bolts 67 and 69. Arm 68 rotates through the pivot points 70 and 72. A pivot point 74 is provided and islmaintained in either of two positions by an air cylinder 76.;Air cylinder 76 may have a piston 78 therein, an air cylinder connecting rod 80, and a retaining nut 62. A retaining screw 81 is also provided for side rails 83 and 85. Air cylinder 76 may also be provided with two chambers designated by numerals 84 and 86, said two chambers providing two positions for pivot point 74.

According to a salient feature of the invention, different lengths of insulators may be provided as hereinafter described, and in onelem bodiment, the two positions for pivot point 74 correspond to two different insulator lengths, one for the closure insulator and another for the phase insulator. By way of example, when air is forced into chamber 86 of cylinder 76, pivot point 74 is located at the bottom part of lever 60 (to the right in the drawings), and when air is forced into chamber 64 of cylinder 76, pivot point 74 is located at the upper portion of lever 60 (to the left in the drawings), corresponding to a longer length for the phase insulator. The position of pivot point 74 for the shorter length for the closure insulator is depicted in FlG. 2, while the position of pivot point 74 for the phase-insulator is depicted in FIG. 6. These insulators are carried in selected slots in magazine 2211, depending upon the slots of the core which are to receive a particular insulator at station II.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 6, a front guide plate 148 and rear guide plate 136 define an insulator travel path. To feed wedge material 12 downwardly, a first feed pawl 1511 is coupled'to slide block 66 by means of fastening pin 152. Pawl 150 and a backup block 154 exert a pressing or pinching force against. wedge material 12, urging said material downwardly; A stationary guide rod 156 guides slide block 66 in a vertical path along the desired travel path of material 12 and is securely fastened to holding block 162 by fastener 167. Feed pawl "150 is caused to reciprocate by the linkage mechanisms68, 70, etc., connected thereto. When slide block 66 reaches the lower limit of its downward travel and begins to move upwardly, a retaining feed pawl 1611 oscillates in the stationary retaining or holding block 162 and grips wedge material 12, as shown in dashed outline in FIG. 3, thereby preventing reverse (upward) travel of insulative material 12 during the reverse feed stroke of feed mechanism 59. Retaining feed pawl l60 isconnected to holding block 162 by means of a fastening pin 164. A spring 166 keeps retaining feed pawl 160 in locked or retaining position to retard upward movement of insulative material 12.

Referringnow in particular to FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, assembly 50 may also include a timing unit 49 having a cam member 90 which is centered about a main drive shaft 92. A pivot point 94 may be located on a slide block 96 to provide different degrees of eccentricity for lever 60. A connecting arm 98 may be coupledabout the pivot points 94 and 74. Assembly 50 contains a provision for adjusting the travel distance of slide block 96'and to thereby provide for variable wedge lengths. An adjusting screw 100 and a cover plate 102 (attached atop slide gibs l04 and 106) are provided to so adjust the location of slide block 96. Reference numerals 1116 and 1111 define the path of travel for cam member 911. A cam follower 112 may be secured to a slide block 114, so that slide block 114 traverses a horizontal path depicted by reference arrows 116 and 118. When slide block 114 reaches the limit of its travel in the direction of arrow 1 16, a plate 126 (which may be fastened to slide block 114 by means of fasteners 122 and 124) is operative through a connecting stud 126 (fastened to plate 126 by means of locknut 128) to effect a severing of wedge material 12 by means of severing means 131). Severing means 130 may consist of a pair of blade sections 132 and 134. Blade section 132 may be movable, and blade section 134 may be stationary and may be part of rear guide plate 136. Movable blade 132 may be a part of movable plate 138. Plate 138 may be provided with a slot 1441. After the severing of wedge material 12, cam 91) causes slide 114 to move in the direction of reference arrow 1111. The rotating action of cam 96, which cam contacts cam followers 112, thus causes a. reciprocating action of cutting plate 132. The stud member 126 moves toward the surface 142 of slot 141), and a spring 144 (which is mounted to a spring block holder 146) urges movable blade 132 and the severing unit 131) to the right, providing a passageway through unit 1311 for the severed wedge material 12.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2, connecting arm or rod 98 may consist of two sections, namely a U-shaped socket 911A and a section 93B which is plugged into U-shaped socket 98A. Attached to socket 96A is a tapered plunger 261] which mates with a detent 262 in section 98B. A bracket 264 is attached to socket 98A by means of screws 266 and 2611. Cover plate 270 may be fastened to section 98A by means of a bolts 272, 274 and 276. A spring 280 exerts a force on tapered plunger 260 to hold said plunger in detent position. An excessive force applied through spring 281) urges detent 262 to pop out of section 9613, thereby providing a breakaway action disabling linkage 66.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 3 and 4, on the side of cam (opposite the side to which main plate 176 is located) a driving means such as hydraulic motor 161) may be provided and coupled to a pinion 162 at one end of hydraulic motor shaft 164. Pinion 162 meshes with a gear 186, which in turn rotates a shaft 92. A right-angle drive unit 138, coupled to shaft 92 through a coupling unit 190, may have a sprocket 192 over the shaft 194. A chain 196 may be coupled between sprocket 192 and a second sprocket 198. Sprocket 198 is attached to a slip friction clutch 200. Friction clutch 200 may have an output shaft 262 which is in turn coupled to the sprocket 2114. Sprocket 204 is coupled over a chain 206 to a sprocket 211), which is a part on wedge magazine 220. A hearing unit 2118 is also secured to shaft 262. A ratchet plate 212, which is coupled in common to wedge magazine 2211 through sprocket 210, is operated through a pawl 214. Pawl 214 is a pivot-type pawl, which is coupled to a pull rod 216 by means of a guide 222, and is also coupled to a clevis 224. Clevis 224 is attached to an arm 226 through a pivot 228 and arm 226 is, in turn, pivoted at 231). Cam 911 is also provided with a ridge 232 which engages the roller 234 on arm 226. As cam 90 is rotating, each time the ridge 232 contacts rollers 234, ratchet 212 is disengaged from pawl 214 due to movement to the left of pull rod 216 through arm 226 and clevis 224, etc. For each such disengagement, the magazine 220' is indexed one step, allowing one insulator to be formed as described above and below. If desired, masks may be added to ratchet 212 so that the magazine will index beyond that slot where an insulator will be omitted. This pattern of skipping insulators in certain slots allows the equipment to place as many or as few insulators of a particular kind in the slots as desired, thereby effecting a greater degree of versatility in the equipment.

Assembly 50 may also include shaping means 239 which is more clearly depicted in FIG. 5 in the drawings. Shaping means 239 may include an insulator form punch 240 (which may be a flat plate) securely fastened to a slide plate 114 by means of the fasteners 241, 242 and 243. As cam 90 revolves and strikes cam follower 112,. slide plate 114 reciprocates along the direction of the arrows 116 and 118 (as shown in FIG. 2). As slide plate 114 moves in the direction of arrow 118, a severed length ofwedge material 12 is positioned in slot 244. Slot 244 is contained within insulator-forming block 252. Insulator-forming block 252 is secured to form plate 250 (which plate 250 may be a continuation or rear guide plate 136) which is slotted to provide for passage of punch 240. A similar slot for punch 240 and the material is provided in insulator-forming block 252. As punch 240 abuts insulative material 12 and drives it toward the direction 118, the material 12 is forced into a slot 220a in magazine 220 (FIG. 5). The driving force of punch 240 eventually drives material 12 completely into slot 220a and causes the shaping of material 12 to the configuration of the periphery of slot 220a. The shaped material is depicted as formed insulator 246a in slot 220a, and another formed wedge 24617 is depicted in slot 220b. The reciprocating action of slide plate 114 and punch 240 and the indexing of magazine 220 cause one insulator to be formed for each slot which is aligned with the punch 240 during the insulator-making operation.

FIG. 8 shows a cam development schematic diagram of the motion of the components of timing unit 49 (along the vertical axis) versus the angle of displacement of cam member 90. As shown therein. the first (top) line represents the motion of the outside periphery of said components and is uniform until the indexing occurs, at which time the motion will be momentarily retarded. The second line represents the motion of form punch 240 which is uniform until just prior to the position of cam 90 before the forming of an insulator from material 12. At the time when cam 90 urges punch 240 into contact with material 12, the motion will be slightly retarded and thereafter will rise until punch 240 has completely inserted material 12 into the desired slot of magazine 220, Thereafter, the motion of punch 240 is again retarded. The third line represents the motion of the feed mechanism 59 components which is clearly depicted as being cyclical due to the reciprocating action of lever 60 through arm 98 and cam 90.

In order to automatically vary the insulator length of severed and formed insulators 246 from material 12, a limit switch 371 (shown in FIG. 7) may be actuated through a removable insulator length form, such as a screw, inserted on ratchet plate 212. This form or screw may be manually in serted when a longer insulator length is desired, or it may be removed if a shorter length is desired. When the form or screw is inserted, a signal from limit switch 371 and a signal from a proximity pickup switch 181 (shown in FIG. 4) resulting from actuation of switch 181 by means of ridge 181a are applied after the last index of a full magazine 220 by suitable control circuitry to the input conductor of air valve 440. Conduits 87a and 87b are intercoupled between valve 440 and cylinders 84 and 86, and hence activation oflimit switch 371 effects a flow of fluid through conduits 87a and 87b in the direction of arrow 442, resulting in the positioning of cylinder 86 and pivot point 74 in the long length position depicted in FIG. 6. Air valve 440 is actuated by switch 371 and proximity pickup 181 on the return stroke so that the length will be set before the feeding stroke of the material 12 for the production of the next insulator.

TRANSFER OF INSULATORS F ROM STATION 1 TO STATION 11 Referring now in particular to FIGS. 7 and 9, after a complete set of wedges 246 are severed and formed within the slots of magazine 220 and conveyor 8 is indexed to locate the upper face of either mechanism or 20A in telescoping relationship with magazine 220, formed insulators 246 may be transferred from magazine 220 into suitable slots in means 20. To effect this transfer, the plurality of insulator pushers 300 may be provided for insertion into the individual slots of magazine 220 to drive formed insulators 246 downward into mechanism 20 prior to the formation of turns into the same mechanism. A centrally located shaft 306 is disposed within a bore contained within a round slide block 302. A sliding adapter plate 304 is also disposed about shaft 306 and is affixed to the bottom of slide block 302, and an end of path locator is affixed to the top of shaft 306. A pair of oppositely located brackets 308 and 310 are securely fastened to slide block 302 by means of fasteners 312, 314 and 316, 318 respectively. Brackets 308 and 310 are in turn connected to one end of cables 320 and 322 respectively by means of couplers 324 and 326 respectively. Cable 320 abuts a guide roll 330 and has its other end coupled to a piston 331 of cylinder 332. A similar cable 322 abuts a guide roll 325 and is connected to piston 341 of cylinder 342. Thus, as pistons 331 and 341 are urged upwardly, cables 320 and 322 cause slide block 302 to be driven downwardly. Also, cylinders 332 and 342 are connected to a wedge pusher mounting plate 329 by fasteners 3441, 343, 347 and 349 respectively.

Sliding adapter plate 304 may be a spider-type plate having a plurality of coupling sockets 350 axially disposed about the edges thereof, for coupling wedge pushers 300 to adapter plate 304. Wedge pushers 300 may be securely fastened within sockets 350 by means of hose-clamplike bands (not shown) on the outside of socket 350.

Insulator magazine 220 indexes on a sleeve-type bearing 360 and on ball bearings 364 which may be retained by a circular plate 366 and an adapter plate 368 connected together by screws 370. A fastening screw 372 fastens adapter plate 368 to main mounting plate 380. Magazine 220 may include a magazine housing 223 which surrounds the circumference of magazine 220 as a restaining media to prevent fallout of the formed wedges. Upon completion of the transfer of insulators 246 into appropriate slots of mechanism 20, a limit switch 321 is actuated to return the pushers 300, as will be described hereinafter.

As best seen in FIG. 9, mechanism 20 receives formed insulators 246 in a plurality of insulator guide apertures 824 before stator core 5 is positioned over head assembly 850 and before the electrically conductive coils are placed in head assembly 825 by the turn-forming station.

Wedge-shaped insulators 246 are initially loaded into insulator guide apertures 824 by pushers 300 and coils are placed in the head assembly 825. An actuating assembly 835 is also depicted. The head assembly includes an insulator guide housing 832 and a driven gear 831. The apparatus is rotatably supported on a table 827 by ball bearings 828 and 829. The leading edges of the shaped insulators 246 preferably trail behind the tum-pushing ledges 851 of coil turn feeder blades by a predetermined distance.

While we have shown and described what is presently considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. It is therefore intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for forming insulators of different lengths from a strip of insulative material for insertion into selected slots of a slotted magnetic core, with the insulators being shaped into a wedgelike form, the apparatus comprising: guide means for containing a section of the strip of insulative material; a feed mechanism having a movable driving feed member for contacting and advancing said insulative material along said guide means; a retaining member for contacting and retarding movement of the insulative material; linkage means coupled to said driving feed member and having a movable pivot operable to effect a change in the length of insulative material advanced, with the change corresponding to the movement of said pivot; timing means having a rotating member connected to said linkage means for effecting periodic reciprocating movement thereof; control means for periodically actuating said movable pivot related to the selected slots of the slotted magnetic core; and severing means operatively associated l with said timing unit, and operable to sever selectively said ad vanced length of insulative material.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim ll further comprising magazine means mounted to receive said severed length of insulative material and shaping means movably mounted for inserting said severed length of insulative material into said magazine means.

3. Apparatus for forming insulators of different lengths from a strip of insulative material for insertion into selected slots of a magnetic core, said apparatus comprising: guide means engaging and guiding a section of the strip of insulative material; a movable driving feed means for contacting and advancing said insulative material along said guide means; adjustable advancement control means for limiting movement of said driving feed means for advancement of said insulative material a predetermined one of the different lengths; retaining means for contacting and preventing reverse travel of an advanced length of insulative material; and severing means operable to sever the advanced length of insulative material.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said driving feed means includes lever means mounted for reciprocating movement and engaging the strip of insulative material for ad vancement of said insulative material and said advancement control means engages said driving feed means for limiting movement of said driving feed means in the direction for ac]- vancing the strip ofinsulative material.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further comprising magazine means mounted to receive the severed lengths ofinsulative material and shaping means movably mounted for inserting severed lengths of insulative material into said magazine means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said magazine means includes a plurality ofinsulative material receiving slots and is movably mounted to align different ones of insulative material receiving slots to said shaping means; said apparatus also including timing means interconnected with said driving feed means, said severing means, said shaping means and said magazine means for automatically causing predetermined lengths of insulative material to be inserted into predetermined ones ofsaid slots ofsaid magazine means.

7. Apparatus for forming insulators of different lengths from a strip of insulative material for insertion into selected slots of a slotted magnetic core; said apparatus comprising: guide means engaging and guiding a section of the strip ofinsulative material; driving feed means for contacting and advancing the strip of insulative material along said guide means; linkage means drivingly coupled to said feed means for effecting advancement of the strip of insulative material; said feed means and said linkage means being relatively adjustable selectively to determine the length of insulative material advanced; and severing means operable to sever the advanced length of insulative material.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising control means selectively operable to effect relative movement between said drive feed means and said linkage means for selecting the length of insulative material advanced by said drive feed means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising retaining means for contacting and preventing reverse travel of an advanced length of insulative material.

lit]. Apparatus as set forth in claim '7 further comprising magazine means mounted to receive the severed lengths ofinsulative material and shaping means: movably mounted for inserting the severed lengths of insulative material into said magazine means.

111. A method of forming insulators of different predetermined lengths from a strip of insulative material, including the steps of: repeatedly advancing the strip of insulative material a distance corresponding to the predetermined length of an insulator to be formed, retaining the strip of insulative material in its advanced position, severing the advanced length of insulative material from the strip, and selectively changing the length of insulative material advanced during predetermined successive strip advancementsteglis.

l2. A method as set forth in c a1m lll further including inserting the severed lengths of insulative material in a magazine.

13. A method of forming insulators of different predeten mined lengths from a strip of insulative material, including the steps of: repeatedly advancing the strip of insulative material a distance corresponding to the predetermined length of an insulator by contacting the strip with a driving feed member having a strip-advancing increment of motion and a return increment of motion; retaining the strip in its advanced position; severing the advanced length of insulative material from the strip; and selectively changing the length of insulative material advanced during predetermined successive strip advancement steps by changing the length of the strip-advancing increment ofmotion ofthe driving feed member. 

1. Apparatus for forming insulators of different lengths from a strip of insulative material for insertion into selected slots of a slotted magnetic core, with the insulators being shaped into a wedgelike form, the apparatus comprising: guide means for containing a section of the strip of insulative material; a feed mechanism having a movable driving feed member for contacting and advancing said insulative material along said guide means; a retaining member for contacting and retarding movement of the insulative material; linkage means coupled to said driving feed member and having a movable pivot operable to effect a change in the length of insulative material advanced, with the change corresponding to the movement of said pivot; timing means having a rotating member connected to said linkage means for effecting periodic reciprocating movement thereof; control means for periodically actuating said movable pivot related to the selected slots of the slotted magnetic core; and severing means operatively associated with said timing unit, and operable to sever selectively said advanced length of insulative material.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising magazine means mounted to receive said severed length of insulative material and shaping means movably mounted for inserting said severed length of insulative material into said magazine means.
 3. Apparatus for forming insulators of different lengths from a strip of insulative material for insertIon into selected slots of a magnetic core, said apparatus comprising: guide means engaging and guiding a section of the strip of insulative material; a movable driving feed means for contacting and advancing said insulative material along said guide means; adjustable advancement control means for limiting movement of said driving feed means for advancement of said insulative material a predetermined one of the different lengths; retaining means for contacting and preventing reverse travel of an advanced length of insulative material; and severing means operable to sever the advanced length of insulative material.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said driving feed means includes lever means mounted for reciprocating movement and engaging the strip of insulative material for advancement of said insulative material and said advancement control means engages said driving feed means for limiting movement of said driving feed means in the direction for advancing the strip of insulative material.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further comprising magazine means mounted to receive the severed lengths of insulative material and shaping means movably mounted for inserting severed lengths of insulative material into said magazine means.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said magazine means includes a plurality of insulative material receiving slots and is movably mounted to align different ones of insulative material receiving slots to said shaping means; said apparatus also including timing means interconnected with said driving feed means, said severing means, said shaping means and said magazine means for automatically causing predetermined lengths of insulative material to be inserted into predetermined ones of said slots of said magazine means.
 7. Apparatus for forming insulators of different lengths from a strip of insulative material for insertion into selected slots of a slotted magnetic core; said apparatus comprising: guide means engaging and guiding a section of the strip of insulative material; driving feed means for contacting and advancing the strip of insulative material along said guide means; linkage means drivingly coupled to said feed means for effecting advancement of the strip of insulative material; said feed means and said linkage means being relatively adjustable selectively to determine the length of insulative material advanced; and severing means operable to sever the advanced length of insulative material.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising control means selectively operable to effect relative movement between said drive feed means and said linkage means for selecting the length of insulative material advanced by said drive feed means.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising retaining means for contacting and preventing reverse travel of an advanced length of insulative material.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising magazine means mounted to receive the severed lengths of insulative material and shaping means movably mounted for inserting the severed lengths of insulative material into said magazine means.
 11. A method of forming insulators of different predetermined lengths from a strip of insulative material, including the steps of: repeatedly advancing the strip of insulative material a distance corresponding to the predetermined length of an insulator to be formed, retaining the strip of insulative material in its advanced position, severing the advanced length of insulative material from the strip, and selectively changing the length of insulative material advanced during predetermined successive strip advancement steps.
 12. A method as set forth in claim 11 further including inserting the severed lengths of insulative material in a magazine.
 13. A method of forming insulators of different predetermined lengths from a strip of insulative material, including the steps of: repeatedly advancing the strip of insulative material a distance corrEsponding to the predetermined length of an insulator by contacting the strip with a driving feed member having a strip-advancing increment of motion and a return increment of motion; retaining the strip in its advanced position; severing the advanced length of insulative material from the strip; and selectively changing the length of insulative material advanced during predetermined successive strip advancement steps by changing the length of the strip-advancing increment of motion of the driving feed member. 